Messages

641

General Mach Discussion / Re: Stepper Speed Factors?

« on: February 09, 2011, 10:34:23 AM »

Hood, I cant imagine how many times I have thanked you but by now, I need your address for a Christmas card to say the least. Anyway i played with the velocity and it was as you said @ 13.5. I was able to tune up to about 18-20 ipm max and it seems best if the g's end up around .01 vicinity. I also misstated the kernel speed, I am tuned to 35000Hz and not missing steps or wasnt prior to changing the velocity settings a minute ago LOL. Oddly enough my Z was able to tune to the highest ipm's and all 3 steppers are the same as is the gear reductions, ? Is there any reason to have these speeds matched on each axis in regards to timing? Is the only way to increase my speed by raising the kernel speed? Ok just looking back at my tuning (when I posted I wasnt at my machine), I am running 101600 steps per unit inches in my DM 2400's case. Due to my reduction am I at my max? The velocity slider would only allow a max of around 20. Wow, I just opened another machines xml. 1 for my A2ZCNC Sherline and it is running 25000Hz but only needing 1600 steps per unit. I use 60ipm there but could slide the velocity into the 967ipm range (theoretically as I didnt bother to test it that high). I am not sure of what speeds this little machine can handle, seems like Jeff Birt claims in the 30-40 ipm with a smooth stepper. If I am at the max at this kernel speed, wouldnt a higher kernel speed allow more commands per second? I am sure there are many other factors too.   

642

General Mach Discussion / Stepper Speed Factors?

« on: February 09, 2011, 08:34:46 AM »

I have been running a few small machines with Mach 3 over the last year or more. My latest is a Dyna DM2400 with a gear reduction on each screw (not what I wanted necessarily but that is what it came with and it is very accurate). Anyway I have my kernel speed on 25000Hz. My acceleration and velocity are acceptable with no loss of steps. I run a 48v 12a power supply and a gecko g540. My cutting speeds are in the 12 ipm range and might max out at about 13.5 ipm even using a feedrate override. What are all of the factors controlling speed? If you use a wizard in Mach 3, it will show a materials page. On this page if you select aluminum for example, there is a feedrate box. Is this box responsible for max speed in that material? I usually use the above 12 ipm for cutting in aluminum but would like to play around with higher speeds, feedrate increased to 290% still only achieves 13.5 though the base feedrate was 12 ipm. No interest in new equipment, smoothsteppers or other stuff just optimizing and understanding what I have. Btw my steps per unit are in the 10160 range due to the 10:1 reduction. What would be my calculated max speed with those settings? Ideas.

643

General Mach Discussion / Re: so much to learn

« on: February 05, 2011, 12:56:12 PM »

It is fun and relatively safe though. The wife still gets jealous? I am in the garage!

644

General Mach Discussion / Re: Multiple monitor setup

« on: November 20, 2010, 11:18:27 PM »

1 to machine and 1 for surfing!

645

Promote and discuss your product / Re: Mach3 as 3d printer software

« on: November 14, 2010, 03:37:02 PM »

Nuri, looking good! I figure my G540 could control all 4 axis with out a problem, throw an extruder head on the A2ZCNC Monster Mill in place of the Sherline head. Maybe some form of heated bed?

646

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC Mill machine

« on: November 14, 2010, 09:14:57 AM »

Sounds like you have entered half the amount of steps per unit necessary. There is a calibration feature. It will ask you how much you would like to move, then it moves ( the amount entered)  and then asks how much the machine actually moved, then it will correct the steps per unit if you accept it.

647

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sherline rotary table on a 3 axis mill running Mach3.

« on: November 08, 2010, 08:01:50 AM »

Though it will be a small setback, there are a few of us who have done this or similar. I did fry my speed control board while interfacing it with a Homanns board for control via Mach 3.

648

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sherline rotary table on a 3 axis mill running Mach3.

« on: November 07, 2010, 09:56:20 AM »

That link shows some highly detailed engraving that is for sure. It is easy to miss all of the uses for these machines. When you say mount a lathe tool stationary to the Z axis, this is what I think of and cant wait to try
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8l6lH4ydd4
This guy constantly amazes me with ideas I have never seen or heard of. Not that nobody else knows them, just not that my experiences have placed me around solutions like them. Good luck regardless of how you want to use it.

649

General Mach Discussion / Re: Sherline rotary table on a 3 axis mill running Mach3.

« on: November 07, 2010, 09:49:15 AM »

Glad, does your tool swivel? If not it seems like it would dig in at changes in direction. Never mind, I just watched the whole video. Incredible. Beautiful work. As if my eyes arent already getting bad, having to work via a loupe would be difficult.

650

General Mach Discussion / Re: Homing slaved axis with a common switch

« on: November 07, 2010, 09:39:11 AM »

You also have a change on the general logic configuration page, I think. Home Slave Master Axis needs to be checked. But I dont think the switches would work like you have it set up and just add 1 switch on another pin. Seems like it would put the gangtry well out of rack while homing. I could definitely be wrong.